San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-10-13
Our Trip to the Mountains.

Western Texas above San Antonio,
we had contemplated a trip up that
way. Our desire to visit that region
was no new born idea. For years,
even before coming to Texas, wo had
read and heard of it as most inter
esting section of the State. Tho w.
rious publications, first of Kendall,
and later of Kingsbury, had in fact,
exaoted more interest in it than was
possessed by many Of the more &C
cessible and in some respects more
desirable and important divisions OF
Texas. So, when the railroad had
reached il, making the trip short and
easy, we resolved to defer no longer
the qualification Of our desire to spy
out this remarkable land. And the
fact that during all this season we
had scarcely been off the the news
paper treadmill, and needed some re-
Taxation, afforded an additional rea-
son for carrying out this determine
ton. Accordingly on Wednesday
last we took the night train for San
Antonio in order to join the excur-
sion to Kerrville, the the next morn
ing.
We repaired betimes to the Arans-
as Pass depot This is the hand
soonest railroad depot in it's surround
ings in the city. The grounds, we
were told, formerly belonged to a
garden. 80 the fact is not surprising.
About half past seven the excur-
sion train, consisting of six elegant
brand new we'll filed coaches, rolled
out of the depot. By chance
we were seated with an old
settler of San Antonio, whose
advent dated back to 1857. We
forget his name, but were entertain
ed with many anecdotes and incidents
of the past of the city. He pointed
out to us in passing the proposed
new addition OF the city. the site for
which has been recently purchased
by q Cincinnati syndicate for $780,
900. They are digging artesian wells,
and there seems to be no question
but they mean business in building
up new division Of the city, estab-
fishing manufactures, etc,
Passing around the head Of the riv-
er and traversing mesquite fiat for
some miles, we entered the highlands
at the Leona, q mountain stream.
Soon we reached Leon Springs where
an old settler has hotel, store, post
Office, etc. The place lies in the CEN
tire of the valley, which is several
miles in extent, with many isolated
mountains surrounding, and taking
il all in all.is as picturesquely beauti-
fulas any we saw on our trip. 1t SEEM
ed to us a delightful place in which
to retire from the turmoil OF the out
side world.
We found this region much
less mountainous and the val
leys much larger than we had been
led to anticipate. There is great
deal of good farming land, and no
doubt it is very productive when the
seasons are favorable. The mountains
are generally two or three times as
high as those about San Marcos, and
differ from the latter in being mostl Y
isolated hills, generally Of the sugar
loaf style. but sometimes crowned
with higher and precipitous crests.
Streams are frequent but we were
told that but few of them are perma-
nent. The valleys are bordered by
timber, mostly different varieties of
oak, and underbrush. Sometimes for
miles scarcely any mountains were
visible, and again they would ''come
in clusters" Thus the scene extends
until you reach the valley of the Qua
dalupe. Thenceforward the valley
land becomes more continuous and
extensive, while the river is bordered
by various kinds Of timber, among
which the cypress is conspicuous
We pass Borne before reaching this
valley. Then comes the German
hamlet Of Sisterdale, and next the
larger German town Of Comfort.
Here, as at other stations, there were
considerable aocessions to our crowd
A comely German lady, Of middle
age. shared our seat and We found
her free and frank in conversation
Nearly opposite The town on the
right hArd stood 9 large monument